At a glance
This program funds projects that protect, study, manage, preserve, and interpret cultural and paleontological resources on public lands, including inventories, excavations, records work, museum collections, repatriation, education, outreach, and tribal engagement. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled and private higher education institutions; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status. Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible. Awards are cooperative agreements with an estimated total program funding of $830,000, about 40 awards expected, and award amounts from $30,000 to $75,000. No cost share is required. Applications are open June 12, 2026 through August 14, 2026, and some offices and areas are not accepting applications, including Headquarters for national projects, Eastern States, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, NIFC, and NOC.
What it funds
Official description from grants.gov
Broadly, the objective is to develop partnerships to improve access to, and use of, heritage resources, and promote their educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational values in a manner that meets U.S. Department of the Interior priorities and Cultural Heritage and Paleontology Program goals. Individual projects shall meet one or more of the following objectives.Conduct studies, including inventory, excavation, records research, and collections-based research to improve the understanding of America"s natural and cultural history;Monitor at-risk heritage resources to track trends in condition and project effectiveness;Stabilize at-risk heritage resources;Train future cultural resource management practitioners and paleontologists through research projects, field schools and internships that highlight BLM resources;Assist with cultural heritage data and records management activities such as organizing, maintaining, and scanning site and survey records; creating, digitizing and maintaining geospatial data; and performing data entry;Preserve existing collections at recognized curation facilities through such activities as archival housing, stabilization or conservation;Broaden public access to museum collections;Promote engagement with Native American communities and foster partnerships with tribal governments and programs;Promote public engagement, learning opportunities, and conservation/preservation ethics through heritage resources education and outreach programs, events, and products;Develop and maintain historic sites with interpretive and educational potential.Partner to support BLM"s Tribal consultation efforts
Who can apply
- City or township governments
- County governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Special district governments
- State governments
“State Priority Projects that will be accepting applications under this Notice of Funding Opportunity: California: Develop and implement the Potential Fossil Yield Classification (PFYC). Colorado: 1) Cultural resource restoration, education and outreach, and Tribal engagement; 2) Paleontological inventory, museum collections management, and PFYC implementation. Montana/Dakotas: 1) Restoration and stabilization of cultural resources; 2) Paleontological inventory, museum collections management, and PFYC implementation. New Mexico: Paleontological inventory, museum collections management, and PFYC” — From the announcement